About the Show
EDIFICE & US is a series of 13 television half hour documentaries that explore Saskatchewan through the architectural heritage of the province. Each episode tells the unique story of one building. The building acts as a lens to view the poignant human stories that are its life and times. EDIFICE & US uses this lens to bring the past alive and view the present life of our buildings in an entertaining and educational way. It gives viewers privileged access to odd places, hidden places and extraordinary places.
From vanishing aboriginal and pioneer landmarks to 21st Century expressions of urban and rural prairie life, there are many significant buildings that are excellent subjects for episodes of EDIFICE & US. Those selected are, unique and exciting examples of the builder’s art. The featured building may have an interesting construction or style, be a surviving example of our heritage or have played a special role in the community.
Each episode explores the architecture, art and structure that define the physical space and its interaction with and impact on the natural environment. The show tells the human stories of the building’s creators, those who use it and the people who experienced its past, are living its present and are influencing its future.
Our buildings are shaped by who we are, how we live and creative vision. In turn, the structures we create contribute to enhancing our lives and evolving our communities. Our buildings are part art, part science and part the product of necessity. They express our lives and culture.
A building is constructed to be functional. But most buildings also have non-functional features that express cultural values and styles. Crenellated towers, onion domed steeples or ornate decorations and other design features may reflect a cherished past or express an optimistic vision of the future. Buildings in many ways are monuments to the values and symbols of the society that built them. They provide iconic images that we use to visualize and remember the past. They shelter the stories of the builders and the users of the building.
By telling compelling stories and creating visually captivating portraits of featured buildings Edifice & Us is of interest to a wide-ranging audience. The series is an entertaining way to help viewers better understand our world and preserve its history.